Marginal zone lymphoma of extranodal sites: A review with an emphasis on diagnostic pitfalls and differential diagnosis with reactive conditions.

Marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) represents 8% of all B-cell lymphomas and it is the most common small B-cell lymphoma arising at extranodal sites. The gold-standard test to establish a diagnosis of MALT lymphoma remains histopathologic analysis with the aid of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or flow cytometry immunophenotypic analysis. MALT lymphoma represents a progression from a persistent chronic inflammatory process, and therefore distinguishing MALT lymphoma from chronic inflammation by histopathology may be challenging in some cases.

Flow cytometry quantification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to predict the survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Our previous studies have demonstrated that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including normal B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have a significantly favorable impact on the clinical outcomes of patients treated with standard chemoimmunotherapy. In this study, to gain a full overview of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), we assembled a flow cytometry cohort of 102 patients diagnosed with DLBCL at the Duke University Medical Center.

Methods: We collected diagnostic flow cytometry data, including the proportion of T cells, abnormal B cells, normal B cells, plasma cells, NK cells, monocytes, and granulocytes in fresh biopsy tissues at clinical presentation, and analyzed the correlations with patient survival and between different cell populations.

Diagnostic approach to prevascular (anterior) mediastinal lymphomas: when thoracic pathology meets hematopathology.

Lymphomas are among the most common malignant tumors occurring in the anterior/prevascular mediastinum. Their diagnoses can be challenging in small biopsies, the current most common method of sampling of an anterior mediastinal mass. Because the initial clinical and/or imaging impression may not be that of lymphoma, these specimens may first be evaluated by cytopathologists, surgical pathologists, and thoracic pathologists rather than hematopathologists.

Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma-A Review of Clinical, Morphological, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features.

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is the second most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma after mycosis fungoides and belongs to the spectrum of cutaneous CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Although primary cutaneous ALCL usually presents as a localized nodule or papule with or without ulceration, multifocal lesions may occur in up to 20% of cases. Histologically, primary cutaneous ALCL consists of a diffuse dermal infiltrate of medium to large anaplastic/pleomorphic cells with abundant amphophilic-to-eosinophilic cytoplasm, horseshoe-shaped nuclei, strong and diffuse expression of CD30, and with focal or no epidermotropism.

Enhanced fungal specificity and therapeutic efficacy of a C-22 modified FK520 analog against .

Unlabelled: Fungal infections are of mounting global concern, and the current limited treatment arsenal poses challenges when treating such infections. In particular, infections by are associated with high mortality, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic options. Calcineurin is a protein phosphatase that mediates fungal stress responses, and calcineurin inhibition by the natural product FK506 blocks growth at 37°C.

Rapidly Progressive Bilateral Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

A 56-year-old male who presented with unilateral localized sub-retinal lesions suspicious for primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) developed florid bilateral ocular involvement and was found to have lesions on MRI of the brain in a five-week period despite the absence of vitreous involvement during the entire course of his disease. His ocular lesions were monitored while on systemic treatment and an excellent clinical response was achieved. His central nervous system (CNS) lesions, however, continued to progress despite chemotherapy and whole-brain radiation.

Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer.

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most frequently diagnosed primary malignant brain cancer in adults. Despite recent progress in understanding the biology of GBM, the clinical outcome for patients remains poor, with a median survival of approximately one year after diagnosis. One factor contributing to failure in clinical trials is the fact that traditional models used in GBM drug discovery poorly recapitulate patient tumors.

NUT Carcinoma: Clinicopathologic Features, Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive, poorly differentiated carcinoma occurring mostly in adolescents and young adults. This tumor usually arises from the midline structures of the thorax, head, and neck, and exhibits variable degrees of squamous differentiation. NUT carcinoma is defined by the presence of a (15q14) rearrangement with multiple other genes.

Synchronous plasma cell neoplasm and B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma at initial presentation: first report of an unusual association with a good outcome.

A synchronous diagnosis of a plasma cell neoplasm (PCN) and a non-plasma cell hematologic malignancy is very rare. We report what we believe is the first instance of a synchronous PCN and B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL) diagnosed at initial presentation. The patient underwent laboratory evaluation for an underlying plasma cell neoplasm, including immunology studies, bone marrow biopsy, and flow cytometry immunophenotyping.

Primary histiocytic sarcoma of the clivus with focal extension into central nervous system and neurologic manifestations: First description at an unusual site with an overwhelming and rapid progression.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant neoplasm of macrophage-dendritic cell lineage that can occur at any site. Primary base of skull involvement is exceedingly rare. We present the case of a previously healthy 56-year-old man who complained of headaches and showed localized neurologic symptoms.

Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry.

Immunofluorescence is an important immunochemical technique that utilizes fluorescence-labeled antibodies to detect specific target antigens. It is used widely in both scientific research and clinical laboratories. Immunofluorescence allows for excellent sensitivity and amplification of signal in comparison to immunohistochemistry.

P10s-PADRE vaccine combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ER-positive breast cancer patients induces humoral and cellular immune responses.

Breast cancer patients diagnosed with HR+/HER2- tumors face a persistent risk of distant recurrence long after completion of their treatment. Strategies to induce anti-tumor immune responses could complement standard-of-care therapies for these patients. The current study was performed to examine the feasibility, safety and immunogenicity of adding P10s-PADRE to standard-of-care chemotherapy in HR+/HER2- early-stage breast cancer patients.

Long Term Outcome and Histologic Findings of a Retinal Astrocytic Hamartoma Treated with Intravitreal Injection of Anti-VEGF: A Case Report.

Background: To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the histologic changes of a retinal astrocytic hamartoma (RAH) in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), as well as the longest anti-VEGF treatment that such a patient has received (3 years). . We present a case of a 20-year-old female with TSC who developed progressive growth of a papillary astrocytic hamartoma that caused significant retinal edema, vitreous hemorrhage, and neovascular glaucoma.

Mediastinal Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Lymphoproliferative disorders comprise 50% to 60% of all mediastinal malignancies in both children and adults. Primary mediastinal involvement is rare (∼5%), whereas secondary mediastinal involvement by systemic disease is more common (10% to 25%). Primary mediastinal disease is defined as involvement by a lymphoproliferative disorder of mediastinal lymph nodes, the thymus, and/or extranodal mediastinal organs without evidence of systemic disease at presentation.

Limitations of an ex vivo breast cancer model for studying the mechanism of action of the anticancer drug paclitaxel.

Paclitaxel is widely used in the treatment of breast, ovarian, lung, and other cancers. Its primary mechanism is to prevent microtubule depolymerization causing loss of dynamic instability crucial for normal microtubule function leading to mitotic arrest. Prolonged mitotic arrest results in cell death as a secondary response.

JCPyV T-Antigen Activation of the Anti-Apoptotic Survivin Promoter-Its Role in the Development of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fatal demyelinating disease of the CNS, resulting from the lytic infection of oligodendrocytes by the human neurotropic polyomavirus JC (JCPyV), typically associated with severe immunocompromised states and, in recent years, with the use of immunotherapies. Apoptosis is a homeostatic mechanism to dispose of senescent or damaged cells, including virally infected cells, triggered in the vast majority of viral infections of the brain. Previously, we showed upregulation of the normally dormant anti-apoptotic protein Survivin in cases of PML, which-in vitro-resulted in protection from apoptosis in JCPyV-infected primary cultures of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.